Vacuum cleaner coupling



Aug- 1 1950 G. M.KELL Y 2,515,833

' muuu CLEANER couPLING Filed sept. 5, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcEI VACUUMCLEANER COUPLIN G George M. Kelly, Sturgis, Mich., assigner to DouglasManufacturing Co., Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 10 Claims.1

This invention relates generally to coupling devices and moreparticularly is directed to a litting or plug device, secured to theextremity of a conduit, such as the conduit of a vacuum cleaner, wherebythe hose may be detachably connected to the cleaner.

One important object of the invention is to provide a fitting which willallow the conduit or hose to rotate freely with respect to the fittingwhen the latter is connected to the cleaner. This arrangement has provendesirable because twisting, coiling, and kinking of the conduit isprevented when an accessory such as a floor nozzle, connected to theopposite end of the conduit is being used.

Another object is to provide a fitting which consists of very few partswhich may be easily and quickly assembled into a compact unit on aproduction basis. l

A further object is to provide a tting which may be easily and quicklydetachably connected to the cleaner in a manner whereby the air passingthrough the conduit will not escape through the tting; in other words,an uninterrupted con tinuous passage is provided between the conduit andthe interior of the cleaner.

A still further object is to provide a fitting or plug which mayslightly rotate with respect to the cleaner and the conduit may rotatewith respect to the plug.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved methodand means whereby to facilitate the assembling of the parts of thecoupling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent afterreading the description hereinafter set forth in connection with thedrawing annexed hereto.

In the drawings;

Figure lshows the conduit fitting secured or assembled with a vacuumcleaner, with portions of the assembly broken away to clearly illustratethe details of construction;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through an appropriatepart of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the coupling;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, portions of which are shown insection to` illustr te the depressed position of the latch means Figure5 is a detailed sectional `view'depicting Application September 5, 1947,Serial No. 772,445

the locking means employed for,"fdcetachably-sefl curing parts of thecoupling together;Ir and;

Figure 6 is another detailed sectional viewfillusytratingcharacteristics," of; the latchmmeans. y

Referring more in detail to the structure illustrated in Figure l,numeral I represents the fit- I is provided with a. circular opening 5through which the fitting is projected. The opening is preferablychamfered at 6 whereby to assist inpiloting the plug into the opening. Areceptacle or socket 'I for the plug is secured to the inner side of theend wall 2 by a plurality of screws 8.

The receptacle includes, a cylindrical portion 9V serving as a bearingor support for a. part of the plug, an enlarged annular portion I0 whichforms a space within which portions of the latches may operate, and aradially extending flange II.

A gasket l2 is disposed between the ange Il and the inner side of theend wall of the cleaner so as to seal oif and prevent any air from beingdrawn into the cleaner other than through the passage desired. Thereceptacle 1 is also provided with an end wall I3 provided with yanaperi ture I4. A resilient washer I5 is disposed in the receptacle I andpreferably cemented to the end wall I3 to serve asa yieldable abutmentfor the inner end or extremity of the plug. The washer I5 is providedwith an aperture IE corresponding to the aperture I4.

The conduit is of conventional construction.

One extremity of an elongated tube II is rmly secured against rotationin the conduit Il and its other extremity extends beyond the end of theconduit and provides a fixed mounting or support about which the plug Imay rotate. The free end of the tube I 'I is preferably provided with aradial locking flange I8.

The plug preferably includes a tubular cylini drical body I9 constructedfrom some desirable` material, such as pyroxylin plastic or phenoliccondensate. The body is provided with a round opening 20 through whichthe tube Il extends whereby to rotatably mount the plug. The end of thebody which rst enters the receptacle 'l ofthe cleaner is preferablyrecessed to provide a shoulder 2| which is engaged by the radial flangeIB of the tube for holding the plug connected to the conduit. Theopposite or trailing end of the body is also preferably recessed toprovde a shoulder 22 which is engaged by the end ofthe conduit wherebyto hold the plug against I movement in an axial direction. The end ofthe conduit being seated in the` last mentioned recess I -s well.protected and serves to conceal; any end it will be evident that theintervening space be-"f tween the tube and ferrule is substantiallylled.l

or taken up by the body I9. The bottom or end Wall of the cup shapedferrule'abuts the extreme.;

end of the body and is provided with an aperture 21 corresponding insize to the apertures ifi and I6 in the receptacle or socketandxwasherI5.v The entrance end of the ferrule is preferably slightly rounded toassist in piloting the' plug into the chamfered opening; E of thecleaner and intothereceptacle *"i. The ferrule isV ofza -lengthsoinewhatdessthanA thelength oflthe body I9*-- andterminates more orless-:against anw-exposed.y enlargement Ziriof thel body. which more orlessy servesxas af-handletcV assist-in connecting and. disconnecting theplug with respect to the cleaner; Thebody I9 is furtherprovidedwith pairoi diametrically f disposed.. longitudinally extending` shallowchannelsor pockets generally rectanav gular.v inv crosssection.

, Each- Jchannel .preferably includes La relativelyf shorthorizontalbase .wall 'adjacent the'sho' der 'Zvand anfinclinedibottomiwall 3i avith'iter-'v minatiionsadjacent theft-vail 3d andfthe'ffronterga tremitytoffthebcdy as clearly' depicted in Figure 1,.. At oradj'acentithe junction between'the just '.mentioned' there is preferablyf provided a 1 roundihole twhichreceives and vlocates-one end 1 of 'Tahelical spring 33.-

Afresilient latch 22d-iis disposed'in each`ofth'e limit of the inclinedbottom wall 3l fof each-chan@ nelu andthe Vferrule and'thefoppositelextremity isi-provided arounded loop portion d'which projects outwardly-Y through an openingformedv by the-einher marginal edge of the ferruleand" thechanriel-to provide opposit'ely disposed fingerfonthum'boperated latch'vrneans atV appropriate loY cations with respectto the round handle portion moreror lessl concealed bythe 'leit end wall3550i each channel.- Each latchispreferably planar irl-character except'for the'catch'portionilan'd loop portion34, and includes datportions/Elend 38' with the catch portionwtherebetween.'

tion ,39 and a shoulder portion dil. 'These flat portions 3l 'and' arenormally pressed "against the inner cylindricalsurface .of .the ferruleby the.

springl 33.which :preferably bears against the portionl'l between thecatch. and loop portions.4

in. order` to obtain the action. desired.V

I 9 iwithl diametrically Vdisposedftransyerse corre-A sponding recessesl iwhichintersectthe channels 29,5'fforzrthe reception of zinwardlyextending corresponding projections 42E As'illustrated'irllilig`` ures 2and?, the projections ltere-'seated inthe l* recesses-ilwh'eieasJFigures Li` Adhd15 `show their? lo channels 29;' One extremityf of each? latch vis 'Y preferably wedged orcaught in'betweenthe upper-Each' catch preferablyincludes an inclined or Vcan'rpor-"- respectivepositions just prior to entry into such recesses.

' To assist in assembling the parts, the latches 25 and springs 33 areseated in the channels 29. The ferrule is then telescoped over the bodyI9 so that the projections i2 will be directed in the channels and ridealong the flat portions 38 of the latches to holdlthem in place whilethe catches 2d Vand theinclined cam portions 3Q thereof urge the latchesinwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 4, whereupon the ferruleis rotated relative to the body to place the projections in registrywith the recesses. Attention is directed to the fact vthatwhentheferrule is being slipped longi- 'tudinallyoverthe'body it, the catchportions 2t slid'ab'ly engage "the inner surf ce of the ferrule but whenthe projections move'into the recesses di, the catch portions will snapoutwardly into theopenings 215 provided therefor in the ferrule todetachably lock the parts together. By merely depressing -the latchessufliciently-to permit one to'effectl a reverse `relativerotationalmovement; between the-.body andferrule, the ferrule maybe slipped on thebody.

" In view 'of' the foregoing it will be evident that` to connect theplug to the cleaner it is merely necessary Ito grasp. either-the conduitor plug or bothand force the Aplug into the opening trof the fcleaner,to cause vthe camiportions" 39 -of the? catches to 'be imovedfinwardly,and'fwhen the eri-1f side or surface-'of the endwall of vthe cleanerwhereby'todetachably holdthe plug in placer` f that the shoulderportions til will abut the innerv So heidi-.the conduit and tube il `arefree 'to' rotate with respect to the plug and prevent kinking.;

of Athe conduit. To release the plugit is-inerely necessary' to depressthe ynger portions 34 of the 1' latches so that :the shoulderportionsvi'oi ther latches 'disengagethe inner side of the end wall-'av ofthehousing'and then* pull the plug;

plugisbeing disconnected.

It will also 'be manifest that -since theE latches are 'resilient andare' spring pressed the latches'ff cordingly provide a'quick, detachableconnection are sensitive but very positive in actiongandacabetweenL theconduit ntting and the vacuum cleaner; l.

It will also be evident that the projections .62 land Yrecesses'lllprovide additional locking means tention is directed to the factVthatthe 'latches' are preferably formed withy slots idldepictedf-inFigures-2 and` 3 Iso as to provide clearance for theprojections 42during thev assembly andidisaf assemblyvoithe parts.

Moreover, it will be apparent'that found dei# sirable the washer I5 maybe constructed of some desirable material which will allowi'thepuigfto-l rotate in the receptacle 'l as well asl with respect I to theconduit d or the washer may be eliminatd entirelyA in which eventtheventrance end 'ofthe plug would-bear against the end wall of the re-I ceptacle". f

ceptacle to allow the plug torotate inthefre'a- Havingthusdescribedply-invention, iti-is' ob-'1c Vious that various 4`othermodifications maybe* frspirit ofrtheeinvention and, therefore; I`fdo=lnctfwish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form,construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown anddescribed.

I claim:

1. A plug device comprising, a body member, a pocket provided in saidbody, an apertured ferrule surrounding at least a portion of said bodyand covering a part of said pocket, an axial opening in said body, atubular member extending through said axial opening, a hole in thebottom Wall of said pocket intersecting said axial opening, said pocket,said tubular member and said ferrule forming a chamber, latch means insaid chamber having a catch portion projecting through the aperture inthe ferrule and a finger operated portion projecting outwardly from theuncovered part of the pocket, and resilient means disposed in the holeengaging the tubular member and acting on said latch means for urgingits projecting portions to predetermined positions.

2. A plug device comprising, a bearing, a body carried by said bearingprovided with a longitudinally extending channel in its exteriorsurface, a ferrule surrounding at least a portion of said body andcovering a part of said channel, an aperture in said ferrule, and latchmeans in said channel having a catch portion resiliently supported onsaid bearing and urged outwardly through said aperture and a portionextending outwardly from the uncovered part of the channel forcontrolling the operation of the catch portion.

3. A coupling device comprising, a mounting provided with an opening, areceptacle secured to one side of said mounting, a seal disposed betweensaid receptacle and said one side of said mounting, a sealing meansdisposed in said receptacle, a plug device carried by the end of aconduit disposed in said opening with one end of said device bearingagainst said sealing means, and means cooperating with said mounting fordetachably holding said plug device in place.

4. A coupling comprising, a vacuum cleaner housing part provided with anopening, a receptacle secured to one side of said part in substantialaxial alignment with said opening, a plug device secured to a conduitdisposed in said opening, and resilient sealing means disposed betweensaid plug device and said receptacle.

5. A conduit, a tube supported on said conduit, a barrel carried by saidtube, a longitudinal recess and a transverse slot provided in saidbarrel, a yieldable latch seated in said recess, a ferrule mounted onsaid barrel, an opening provided in said ferrule receiving a portion ofsaid latch, and a projection provided on said ferrule receivable in saidslot upon rotation of the ferrule whereby to lock the ferrule and latchto said barrel.

6. A coupling comprising a body, a latch and a holding member, a keywayin said body, and said member being provided with an opening and a keyconstructed and arranged whereby when the key is seated in the keyway aportion of the latch Will project through the opening to hold the partsassembled.

7. A conduit, a tube supported by said conduit, a barrel carried by saidtube, opposed longitudinal recesses and transverse slots provided insaid barrel, latches seated in said recesses, a ferrule mounted on thebarrel, openings provided in said ferrule for receiving portions of thelatches, and projections provided on the ferrule in a manner wherebythey may be received in the slots upon rotation of the ferrule to lockthe ferrule and latches to said barrel.

8. A tube adapted for support on a conduit, a barr-el carried by saidtube, a longitudinal recess and a transverse slot provided in saidbarrel, a yieldable latch seated in said recess, a ferrule mounted onsaid barrel, an opening provided in said ferrule receiving a portion ofsaid latch, and a projection provided on said ferrule receivable in saidslot upon rotation of the ferrule whereby to lock the ferrule and latchto said barrel.

` 9. A tube adapted for support on a conduit, a barrel carried by saidtube, a longitudinal recess and a transverse slot provided in saidbarrel, va yieldable latch seated in said recess, a ferrule mounted onsaid barrel, an opening provided in said ferrule receiving a portion ofsaid latch, a projection provided on said ferrule receivable in saidslot upon rotation of the ferrule whereby to lock the ferrule and latchto said barrel, said projection being ridable on the latch prior to itsreception in said slot.

10. A tube adapted for support on a conduit, a barrel carried by saidtube, opposed longitudinal recesses and transverse slots provided insaid barrel, latches` seated in said recesses, a ferrule mounted on thebarrel, openings provided in said ferrule for receiving portions of thelatches, and projections provided on the ferrule in a manner wherebythey may be received in the slots upon rotation of the ferrule to lockthe ferrule and latches to said barrel.

GEORGE M. KELLY.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,102,802 Lofgren Dec. 21, 19372,150,765 Forsberg Mar. 14, 1939 2,266,796 Parker Dec. 23, 1941

